GAINESVILLE — Scarecrows begin to pop up all around as Halloween approaches.
But have you ever seen a scarecrow designed to look like Bob Marley or made completely out of kitchen utensils?
If you head to the downtown Gainesville square today you may get a glimpse of the reggae star or a chef, according to Dana Miller.
"Last year’s winner (was memorable), sponsored by the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and she was Vondelle the Visitor," said Miller, marketing and program director of Interactive Neighborhood for Kids. "And on her suitcase she had stickers that represented attractions around Hall County; she had high hair and a suitcase, and she was really an attraction. During Trick-or-Treat on the Square people were actually having their picture taken with Vondelle."
The event marks its sixth year as local businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations all come together to benefit INK, the local children’s interactive museum. First, second and third place winners will be selected by a panel of independent judges. The winners receive ribbons and T-shirts.
"They just do it for the fun of it and the camaraderie in their groups," Miller said. "We have 33 scarecrows this year. We’ve had a great turnout, and I’ve already been hearing about some of the creations and I can’t wait to see them."
Fox Gradin, Scarecrow on the Square competitor and local photographer, is ready to show the community her creative ideas for her own scarecrow and also help out INK.
"I will seize whatever opportunity I can to be creative, and plus I really like INK," she said. " I really believe in what they are doing over there, as far as giving kids a place to explore imagination."
Gradin, who also is an artist and dancer, is competing in the event for the second year and she gives us tips on how to create a memorable scarecrow at home.
Inspiration
Before buying or looking around the house for clothes and hay for the scarecrow, it’s best to develop an idea.
"I wanted some sort of iconic figure from pop culture," Gradin said. "I love pop culture, so I wanted something very iconic and easily recognizable and someone that I liked as well. So, I don’t know, Bob Marley came to mind and I thought the dreadlocks would be fun to make."
Last year Gradin entered the contest for the first time with a grand idea of creating a belly dancer scarecrow. But the idea literally fell apart.
"She melted and it was a horrible scene," Gradin said. "I basically made her a big doll, and theoretically she should have stood up to the weather ... it had not rained for a long time, and the day I put up the scarecrow and it rained. She just melted, so I drug her down to the dumpster and put her in."
Develop a plan
So as Gradin remembered her belly dancer scarecrow thrown in the dumpster, she knew she needed a new idea for the body for the scarecrow. This year she decided on PVC pipe.
"You want to start with some sort of skeleton so that you will have a really solid underneath," she said. "And then you can start putting clothes on top."
According to www.gardenandhearth.com, attach the head to the upper portion of an upright stick and use a cross beam for the arms. If you wanted laughs from the neighbors and your kids, you might want to stick the head at the bottom.
"I had to put it together in pieces and then put it all together at the end," Gradin said.
Gradin created a papier-mache head for Bob Marley with dreadlocks made of sisal rope, but at www.gardenandhearth.com, the head can be just about anything from a bucket to a stuffed pillow case with a painted face.
Putting it all together
As you are looking at an unclothed scarecrow, begin dressing your front porch decoration.
"The ‘One Love’ logo (will adorn Marley’s shirt), and I think I’m going to do it on the back of his little hoodie as well," Gradin said. "We’ll see if that works out; this is just acrylic paint, so we will put some sort of sealant over it in case it gets wet."
For a simpler idea, stuff an old flannel shirt with newspaper or straw. Add pants, boots or shoes and gloves for hands, www.gardenandhearth.com suggests.
Gradin plans to use burlap for Marley’s attire.
"Well, I know the burlap will hold up pretty good," she said. "Last year it wasn’t the burlap it was the plastic that I stuffed her with; she just wasn’t strong enough to hold her own weight. I don’t think I’m going to stuff him with anything ... he was kind of a skinny guy, and he’s going to have a guitar in front of him.
"(The feet) is the only thing that I haven’t figured out yet," Gradin said. "That will probably be a last-minute decision."